My spy diary

Chapter 546 Arrest (please vote)

"Brother, can I borrow the newspaper to read?"

"sure."

"Thank you." The rickshaw driver was about to take the newspaper when Liu San grabbed him and said, "You want the newspaper? Pay up."

The coachman was taken aback.

"Liu San, you want money for a newspaper you've already read? Are you obsessed with money?" Before the driver could even speak, Liu San's companions couldn't stand it anymore and started to retort.

"So what? I didn't pay for the newspaper?"

"You did spend money, that's true, but you've already seen it. What's wrong with lending it to someone else? Besides, this is a report about the capture of a Japanese spy. The more people see it, the more confidence the Chinese people have in resisting Japan, right?"

"The War of Resistance?" Upon hearing this, Liu San exploded in anger, "The Japanese devils are in Kaifeng, why don't you go there?"

"Although I did not fight on the front lines, I did donate money to the war effort."

"Hmph!" Liu San sneered, ripped open his shirt, and pointed to several hideous scars on his stomach. "You donated money, huh? I personally killed Japanese devils."

"You've been to the battlefield?" His companions, not expecting the unassuming and taciturn Liu San to have such experience, immediately bombarded him with questions. "Which battle? How many Japanese soldiers did you kill?"

Liu San showed no excitement whatsoever; instead, his expression turned dejected. He silently downed a glass of wine and said, "It's all in the past. It was just reckless courage; let's not dwell on it."

"Isn't this a downer? What do you mean by reckless courage? This is a heroic act! Tell me, what exactly happened?"

"Yeah, Lao Liu, tell us about it."

Unable to resist his companions' persuasion, Liu San sighed and slowly began to speak: "You all know that I, Old Liu, am a refugee from Hebei."

It turns out that Liu San came from a village in Hebei. Once, when the Japanese came to sweep through the area, the whole village was in a panic. They found out that there were only three Japanese soldiers leading the charge, and the rest were puppet troops. Liu San stepped forward and organized the villagers to defend themselves. As a result, when the Japanese actually arrived, those villagers who had been so confident all hid away.

Although Liu San was furious, he still picked up the hunting rifle at home and resolutely fought back. With his good marksmanship, he quickly shot and killed two Japanese soldiers. The remaining Japanese soldier and the puppet troops were so frightened that they fled in panic.

At this moment, the villagers reappeared, clapping and praising Liu San as a hero, showering him with flattery. Although Liu San despised their character, he still advised the villagers to quickly pack their belongings and flee.

But it's hard to leave one's homeland, a wife, children, and a warm bed. Unless something happens, who would want to be displaced? Some people even say, "Isn't it you, Liu Laosan, who's here? What are we afraid of?"
Although Liu San was confident in his bravery, he understood the principle that "two fists can't beat a dead hand, and even a hero can't withstand a crowd." The Japanese retaliation was coming soon, and if he didn't leave now, would he just wait to die?

Seeing that he couldn't persuade the crowd, Liu San decided to leave alone with his family.

As a result, the villagers who had just been praising him changed their tune again and began to obstruct Liu San's departure, each of them arguing: "What will we do if you leave?"
Some villagers even argued that every wrong has its perpetrator, and even if the Japanese retaliate, it will only be against Liu Laosan. What does it have to do with anyone else? As long as Liu Laosan is tied up and handed over, and some grain is paid and some kind words are spoken, the matter can be resolved peacefully. Life will go on as usual.

This viewpoint quickly gained the upper hand and won unanimous approval from the villagers.

So the villagers, who had been so timid just moments before, suddenly turned into ferocious and ruthless ones, and tied up Liu Laosan and his entire family.

At this point, Liu Laosan gave a bitter laugh, trembling as he grabbed his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

After a series of sighs, someone asked, "And then what happened?"

"And then?" Liu San chuckled a few times, his expression extremely complicated. "Then a large contingent of Japanese devils came. These beasts don't listen to reason. First, they killed my entire family, and then they started burning, killing, and looting. They didn't spare a single person."
“I, Liu Laosan, am lucky. I survived having my intestines ripped open. But while I survived, I lost my soul. I just can’t understand why those people treated me like that. Was I wrong?”
"Later, I begged my way from Hebei to Yuzhou, and every person I met asked me this question."

"So, do you have an answer now?"

Liu Laosan smiled bitterly: "I've got it. I met a gentleman who asked me why so many peasant uprisings in history failed. Have you ever thought about the reasons? I don't understand, and I don't want to understand. But the old gentleman told me that all roads lead to Rome."

"What did the old man say?"

He said that people are selfish, especially those with a small-farmer mentality, which has its inherent limitations: they are conservative, closed-minded, only focused on immediate interests, lack cooperation, and like to be content with the status quo. You can't get anything done by relying on these people.

"Prejudice? I cannot agree with that. What's wrong with farmers? Who isn't selfish? Chairman Chiang Kai-shek said that once war breaks out, there is no distinction between north and south, or between young and old. Everyone has the responsibility to defend the land and resist the enemy. The rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen."

“If you don’t agree, then you don’t agree. I can’t convince you. There’s a saying that you won’t turn back until you hit a brick wall. If I could convince you, what would be the point of the brick wall? If I could convince others, my family wouldn’t have died.” Liu San shook his head and sighed, then asked, “Who said that everyone has a responsibility for the rise and fall of the nation?”

"Liang Qichao, of course."

"No, the original words were spoken by Gu Yanwu. He said, 'Those who protect the country are the rulers and ministers who eat meat, but those who protect the world are the common people who have a responsibility.'"

"What do you mean?"

"This means that protecting a country's regime from being overthrown is something that emperors and their officials need to plan for, but protecting the world and preventing its morality from declining is something that even ordinary people of low status have a responsibility to participate in."

"After all that talk, it's still the same thing." Someone couldn't help but laugh.

"The difference is huge. The revolutionaries overthrew the Qing Dynasty, which was just the rise and fall of a dynasty and had little to do with us ordinary people. But the Japanese invasion meant national subjugation and annihilation, which for me was a national and personal vendetta." Liu San said passionately, raising his glass and standing up. He continued, "But who you fight the Japanese with makes an even bigger difference. I toast everyone to thank you for your care during this time. I can't thank you enough; I guess I can only repay you in the next life."

After saying that, he drank the wine in one gulp and turned to leave.

"Liu San, where are you going?"

"Seek refuge at Pagoda Mountain."

The group of friends looked at each other in bewilderment. Just then, one of them noticed that the rickshaw driver who had borrowed the newspaper earlier was still standing there, so he handed him the newspaper: "Here, take it and read it. It's just a newspaper."

The driver bowed and thanked him, then quickly took the newspaper and squatted on the doorstep to read it.

This man, named Kazuo Ishikawa (alias Ishio), was a member of Sato Kenjiro's spy group.

Upon seeing Sato Kenjiro's photo in the newspaper, even with his strong will, he was greatly shocked and doubtful. Cold sweat broke out, and his hand holding the newspaper trembled.

Has Sato Kenjiro really been arrested and betrayed? Or is it a conspiracy by the Military Intelligence Bureau? After all, he has the roster of the entire spy team; could he have also given himself away?
Thinking of this, Ishikawa Kazuo took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, glanced around warily, stuffed the newspaper into his pocket, slowly got up, and pulled the rickshaw parked at the door to leave.

He had just left when Liu San appeared quietly, stared at his back for a few moments, and slowly followed him.

trial room.

Zhou Entai, his skin torn and bleeding from the beating, was brought in first. He leaned weakly against a chair, his eyes downcast and his face expressionless. Zhang Yi placed a newspaper in front of him, pointing to the photo on it and saying, "Take a look, this person should be your superior, right?"

Zhou Entai glanced at the newspaper, then lowered his head again, remaining silent.

Zhang Yi had seen plenty of die-hards like this, so he wasn't in a hurry. He lit a cigarette and asked, "Want a smoke?"

Zhou Entai remained noncommittal.

"Have a smoke and think it over carefully. If others say something, you'll be worthless."

Zhou Entai remained silent.

Zhang Yi took out a cigarette and handed it to the monkey, indicating that he should pass it to Zhou Entai.

Zhou Entai did not refuse. He slowly raised his handcuffed hand, holding a cigarette, and began to puff out smoke.

After taking a few puffs, he suddenly realized something was wrong and, in a panic, threw the cigarette away.
"What was added to it?"

"Good stuff, really good!" The monkey chuckled, having obviously spiked the cigarettes Zhou Entai was given.

"Despicable!" Hearing this, Zhou Entai couldn't sit still any longer. Although he didn't know what was added to the cigarettes, the feeling of excitement immediately reminded him of opium. He couldn't help but roar, "You're too despicable! You think you can make me submit like this? Let me tell you..."

The monkey immediately slapped him across the face: "Despicable? This is called giving someone a taste of their own medicine. Wasn't that invented by your cunning, lewd, fat, and ugly ancestor? Now I'll let you taste it too."

After saying this, the group left, leaving Zhou Entai alone in the interrogation room.

As soon as I stepped out of the interrogation room, I saw Deputy Station Chief Li Mulin walking over with a beaming smile: "Director Zhang, I just received a call. Someone reported that a Japanese spy has been discovered."

Zhang Yi was somewhat surprised: "Who was the person who reported you?"

"A rickshaw driver."

"What's the reason?"

"The rickshaw driver was literate and interested in information about the arrested Japanese spies."

That reason makes sense. Zhang Yi nodded. "Where is he now?"

"The informant said the other party had just returned home."

"Then let's arrest them."

"I'll send someone over right now."

"Let's go together."

Li Mulin was somewhat surprised: "He's just a rickshaw driver. Even if he really is a Japanese spy, he's a nobody. Why does Director Zhang need to personally intervene?"

"Be careful, it's nothing serious." Zhang Yi waved his hand. "Besides, I'm more interested in the person who reported the spy."

Upon hearing this, Li Mulin nodded and immediately went to organize manpower.

A few minutes later, three cars drove out of the Military Intelligence Bureau. Li Mulin drove the car himself, while Zhang Yi and Monkey Qian Xiaosan sat together.

Fearing that too many cars would attract attention, the three cars drove separately and arrived near the shantytown where the rickshaw driver lived. They stopped next to a public telephone booth but did not find the informant.

Upon seeing this, Li Mulin first ordered the operatives to disperse and then found the head of security to inquire about the situation.

"Director Wang, right? You're the local deity, you know exactly which evil spirits are causing trouble."

The security chief, surnamed Wang, was a middle-aged man in his forties, dressed in a black Zhongshan suit. He smiled modestly and said, "According to your description, this man should be Shi Xiong. He came here three years ago to stay with relatives. He has a daughter and his wife is a cleaner at a nearby primary school."

At this point, his expression turned somewhat strange: "Speaking of women, I have to say a few words. This guy surnamed Shi may be short and stocky, but his wife is indeed beautiful. Hey, a beautiful flower stuck in cow dung, it's just like..."

"Wu Dalang paired with Pan Jinlian?" Li Mulin asked with a smile.

"Yes, that woman is also promiscuous. It's said she has illicit relationships with many people."

Zhang Yi and Li Mulin exchanged a glance, each lost in thought. If this woman was also a spy, then she was definitely not just faking it; the probability of her carrying out a mission was higher. It was just a matter of how many people she had dragged into it.

Is she home right now?

"I didn't dare to ask directly. I asked their neighbors, and they said that this woman dressed up nicely and went out after coming back from school, and she probably hasn't come back yet."

Zhang Yi nodded and pondered for a moment before saying, "If the man surnamed Shi really is a spy, after reading the newspaper, whether he believes it or not, he will realize that he is not safe and will definitely move to lie low or flee. To avoid alerting him, we will divide our people into two groups. One group will surround his house, and the other group will set up a stakeout at the alley entrance. As soon as the woman shows her face, both sides will act simultaneously."

"Yes."

Shi Xiong rushed home, but his wife wasn't there. He listened intently and heard his daughter crying from the next room; she must be hungry. He didn't care, too exhausted to pay attention. He collapsed onto the bed, rubbing his temples as he pondered.

Sato Kenjiro's arrest is a fact. Will he confess?
In the dimly lit room, illuminated only by an oil lamp, Shi Xiong stared at his shadow cast on the wall. He then thought of the person who had seemed to be following him on the street. Lost in thought, he reacted slowly. By the time he turned around, the person had vanished.

Could it be someone from the Military Intelligence Bureau? Have I really been exposed? No way? Shi Xiong was conflicted.

Why isn't this woman back yet? Shi Xiong was getting impatient. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind. He hesitated for a moment, then got up and walked to the cabinet. He gently pulled open the drawer, and at the very back were several fish bladders. Shi Xiong took them out and counted them. There was one less than when he had taken them a few days ago. He immediately understood that the woman must have gone on a mission.

Although they lived together like a real couple, their missions were separate. For a female spy, selling her body was commonplace. At first, Shi Xiong felt a little uncomfortable, but he gradually became indifferent to it.

On the other side, under the cover of night, a woman with exquisite makeup and wearing an indigo-dyed cheongsam stepped off a rickshaw. Although not revealing, it accentuated her shapely figure.

As soon as the woman appeared, the security chief, who was hiding in the shadows, immediately gave a signal, and the plainclothes officers lying in ambush rushed forward like hungry tigers pouncing on their prey.

(End of this chapter)